Compare towns
Dudley vs Webster vs Clinton vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dudley | Webster | Clinton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
12,228 |
15,563Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Clinton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Dudley and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Clinton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,654Highest 22% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
54.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Clinton | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Clinton Senior High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 12.8 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.